Great Falls tribune., 1887-02-19

ter's sun is entirely excluded. Entering
the very air seems frozen and chilly
blast sweeps through one, although not a
breath of wind is stirring. The slightest
noises are audible, but all sounds seem to
have lost that prolonged vibration, notice
able in 4 higher temperature. We hasten
or, but no game, not even fresh signs are
to be seen. In the course Of the day two
or three old deer trails are crossed and on
one rather bare ridge remain the charac-
teristic footprints of single mountain
sheep as he had passed leisurely along.
Camp is reached as the sun is getting low
without shot having been fired
After supper we gather about the open
fire place built in a corner Of the cabin
One of my companions, an intelligent
half-breed, who stood six feet two in his
stockings, and with short black moustache
gcatee, and fine brown eyes would almost
pass for an Italian, sat silently gazing into
the glowing Goals brooding over the days
i'll luck. He possessed q remarkable ma
ture. With wonderfully acute sense and
quick to observe the minor details Of all
objects by which he was surrounded. had
he only been Italian, with much poorer in
tellect, he might have occupied far diff
ferent position in society. But alas! He
spent too much time in pondering on the
differences of race and breeding aud the
many questions springing from such diff
erences, questions that would puzzle wiser
brains than his. Ordinary work seemed
almost impossible to him, vet let him be
in want of meat, and he would undergo
exertion and fatigue almost without limit
| in the obtaining Of it. My other compan-
| ion, and owner of the cabin, shortly added
| more fuel to the ruddy blaze, lit his pipe,
and as the warm rays penetrated every
| corner of the cabin and cast a bright flick
ering glow over all within, he seated him
self again before the fire and began to tell
of past adventures and experiences, in lis
tening to which, our disapointments Of
the hour are soon forgotten. A sailor.
u,
for many years past, he could make long
winter evening pass as rapidly as the best
of them. Many story did we listen to
then and on succeeding nights. Stories
of lands and scenes so different from those
by which we were surrounded that they
seemed rather of some other world Of
frnI re o+c oh
coppers would obtain more than one could
possibly eat. How much would we like
to have invested small sum that way.
who had almost forgotten the taste and
appearance of fresh apple, in these far
off mountains Not till long after mid
night did we retire to rest.
The next morning after starting out we
determine to separate somewhat and 90
over more closely much the same ground
as On the day before. The region had al
ways proved an excellent one for harbor-
ing game in bad weather and we were
loath to leave it without so much as get
ting sight at anything. Sure enough,
while We were yet together, there glided
out of some heavy timber below US, a small
bunch or dark objects. It proved to be
band of four black-tail deer running close
ly together. They made across a deep
hollow three or four hundred yards away
and up the opposite side. John, the half
breed had already fred two orthree times
at them when they suddenly came to a
standstill in great drift of snow. The
leader wheeled and paved the snow for
an instant, when Henry began firing, while |
l watched to discover if possible where
the bullets were striking. | was unable
to tell, however, at that distance in the |
deep, soft snow, and the game soon disap- |
peared in the timber, unharmed. We had |
all, doubtless, misjudged the distance |
somewhat. After this each one separated |
not to meet again till sun down at the cab
in. No more game had been seen by any
of US. John, who took after the black tail ,
of the morning, said they made a straight |
trail out of the country with scarcely q let |
up in all the distance he followed them. |
Indeed we saw no more Of this particular
species Of deer during our stay in the
mountains.
On the third days hunt we separate at
the cabin door. make for one of the |
lower mountain peaks some four miles
distant. The ascent is quite gradual but
progress slow, owing to the great depth of
snow one must pick his way around. At
one place not far from the summit is a